Moms in Public Accounting

I graduate Dec 2013 and I have a job secured at a large firm with a start date in the fall of 2014. I’ll be working long hours and traveling for work. I’m 27 and want to have my first before I’m 30 but I’m worried about having a baby in the first years at my new job. My DH and I both want children and my in-laws will be moving near us at the end of this year and have mentioned they would help.

Should I take advantage of the time I have before the job start date to have a baby? Or should I wait few years to gain experience at the firm? I’m just wondering, is there a ‘better’ time to have a baby?

I graduate Dec 2013 and I have a job secured at a large firm with a start date in the fall of 2014. I’ll be working long hours and traveling for work. I’m 27 and want to have my first before I’m 30 but I’m worried about having a baby in the first years at my new job. My DH and I both want children and my in-laws will be moving near us at the end of this year and have mentioned they would help.

Should I take advantage of the time I have before the job start date to have a baby? Or should I wait few years to gain experience at the firm? I’m just wondering, is there a ‘better’ time to have a baby?

What a dilemma! At 27 you are still young. At 28 you would have started at the firm, which means if you chose to fall pregnant now, then you will miss out on your baby growing up because you ate working so hard if you do take the job. If you wait till your over 30 you could find it harder to get pregnant. I am an accountant and in your position I would get at least 1 year to 18 months experience before falling pregnant. This means you could get pregnant as soon as you turn 30. And if you want another baby your still young and can wait till 35 for the next if you want. Try get the experience now cause it will be almost impossible once you have a bub. I have not been promoted since having mine. I was 29 and am now turning 36.

What a dilemma! At 27 you are still young. At 28 you would have started at the firm, which means if you chose to fall pregnant now, then you will miss out on your baby growing up because you ate working so hard if you do take the job. If you wait till your over 30 you could find it harder to get pregnant. I am an accountant and in your position I would get at least 1 year to 18 months experience before falling pregnant. This means you could get pregnant as soon as you turn 30. And if you want another baby your still young and can wait till 35 for the next if you want. Try get the experience now cause it will be almost impossible once you have a bub. I have not been promoted since having mine. I was 29 and am now turning 36.

If you are just starting out at a large firm it will be difficult. They usually want a lot of hours and are not very flexible. I work at a decently sized local firm and they are very friendly to working mothers. I work about 40 hours a week from the office and during tax season I work my overtime from home. Usually after the baby is asleep. Of course I have been doing this for almost 15 years now and experience does give you more flexibility. I suggest staying at the big firm for a couple of years and then leveraging that experience into a more family friendly environment.

If you are just starting out at a large firm it will be difficult. They usually want a lot of hours and are not very flexible. I work at a decently sized local firm and they are very friendly to working mothers. I work about 40 hours a week from the office and during tax season I work my overtime from home. Usually after the baby is asleep. Of course I have been doing this for almost 15 years now and experience does give you more flexibility. I suggest staying at the big firm for a couple of years and then leveraging that experience into a more family friendly environment.

I work in public accounting for one of the big four firms. I have been there for 6 years and glad I waited before having kids. While it is still a lot of hours I have much more control over my schedule and where I am working then I did as a staff. Typically I work 45 - 50 hours a week and in busy season (January - March for the audit practice) we are required to work 55 which is actually more like 60 - 65. I know the big four firms offer flexible work arrangements where you can reduce your hours or only work certain days which of course comes with reduced pay but it is something to check into to see if your firm offers.

I work in public accounting for one of the big four firms. I have been there for 6 years and glad I waited before having kids. While it is still a lot of hours I have much more control over my schedule and where I am working then I did as a staff. Typically I work 45 - 50 hours a week and in busy season (January - March for the audit practice) we are required to work 55 which is actually more like 60 - 65. I know the big four firms offer flexible work arrangements where you can reduce your hours or only work certain days which of course comes with reduced pay but it is something to check into to see if your firm offers.

Do you have your CPA? I would definitely wait until you have that before you have your baby. I actually found out I was pregnant two days before I sat for the last section. I spent the first two months worrying over the results and not enjoying my pregnancy. Thankfully I passed! Unfortunately, my friend became pregnant in the middle of her tests and ended up losing one because of the time she took off. It's definitely possible to pass the CPA while pregnant or with a lo but I would not recommend it. Good luck to you.

Do you have your CPA? I would definitely wait until you have that before you have your baby. I actually found out I was pregnant two days before I sat for the last section. I spent the first two months worrying over the results and not enjoying my pregnancy. Thankfully I passed! Unfortunately, my friend became pregnant in the middle of her tests and ended up losing one because of the time she took off. It's definitely possible to pass the CPA while pregnant or with a lo but I would not recommend it. Good luck to you.

I worked at a large firm for 9 years, just left a year ago, shortly after having my 2nd kid. I got pregnant with my first kid after being at the firm for a year. Luckily they were very supportive and allowed me to not travel much. I still worked a ton of hours but worked a lot from home at night and weekends since I needed to pick up my kid from daycare. They didn't care where or when I worked as long as I got my work done, I was an auditor. It wasn't easy but I still got promoted at normal time. I waited 7 years to get pregnant with my 2nd and that is when I decided I wanted to get a job that wasn't as intense. But I could have gone part time at the firm also..but I was at the point where they were discussing being a partner and I just didn't want to be a partner and work 60+ hours the rest of my life. I definitely value the 9 years I had three but am happy I left also. It is hard work but can be done. You just need to prove you are a hard worker and worth accommodating when you have kids. I would definitely finish your CPA before having a child and work for a couple of years. Also I planned my second kid so I wouldn't miss busy season, that also showed them I was a devoted employee so my bonus wasn't really impacted for maternity leave. I realize you can't always plan when you have the baby. Good luck.

I worked at a large firm for 9 years, just left a year ago, shortly after having my 2nd kid. I got pregnant with my first kid after being at the firm for a year. Luckily they were very supportive and allowed me to not travel much. I still worked a ton of hours but worked a lot from home at night and weekends since I needed to pick up my kid from daycare. They didn't care where or when I worked as long as I got my work done, I was an auditor. It wasn't easy but I still got promoted at normal time. I waited 7 years to get pregnant with my 2nd and that is when I decided I wanted to get a job that wasn't as intense. But I could have gone part time at the firm also..but I was at the point where they were discussing being a partner and I just didn't want to be a partner and work 60+ hours the rest of my life. I definitely value the 9 years I had three but am happy I left also. It is hard work but can be done. You just need to prove you are a hard worker and worth accommodating when you have kids. I would definitely finish your CPA before having a child and work for a couple of years. Also I planned my second kid so I wouldn't miss busy season, that also showed them I was a devoted employee so my bonus wasn't really impacted for maternity leave. I realize you can't always plan when you have the baby. Good luck.

I'm 35 FTM and don't regret waiting... Yet anyway ;). Public acct is high stress, excessive hours, etc. Definitely worth it to get a couple years experience and then decide if you want to move into a slower paced position before LO. Women do it in public and I admire them - I definitely wouldn't be able to handle it all.

I'm 35 FTM and don't regret waiting... Yet anyway ;). Public acct is high stress, excessive hours, etc. Definitely worth it to get a couple years experience and then decide if you want to move into a slower paced position before LO. Women do it in public and I admire them - I definitely wouldn't be able to handle it all.

You are all so lucky to have your CPA's! Between working & family I haven't had the time to study. I am hoping I will be able to study while on leave. I work in the private sector & wish I could audit in the public sector. Taxes are my thing ;)

You are all so lucky to have your CPA's! Between working & family I haven't had the time to study. I am hoping I will be able to study while on leave. I work in the private sector & wish I could audit in the public sector. Taxes are my thing ;)

I'm a CPA, and I would advise that you wait a couple years to gain your experience. Once you have 2-3 years of public accounting under your belt, you should have no problems finding a job with more reasonable work hours. The amount of hours you work in public accounting CRAZY (especially at a large firm) and not really reasonable if you're trying to start a family.

I also agree with a pp that if you don't have your CPA yet, and you plan to get it, you should do so before having kids. I am so glad I got mine before kids. The amount of studying involved is so much and would take you away from your family.

I'm a CPA, and I would advise that you wait a couple years to gain your experience. Once you have 2-3 years of public accounting under your belt, you should have no problems finding a job with more reasonable work hours. The amount of hours you work in public accounting CRAZY (especially at a large firm) and not really reasonable if you're trying to start a family.

I also agree with a pp that if you don't have your CPA yet, and you plan to get it, you should do so before having kids. I am so glad I got mine before kids. The amount of studying involved is so much and would take you away from your family.

I work for a big 4 firm and waited until I was a manager to have my first child. I think as a manager I have more flexibility with my schedule and given my client base I don't have to travel as much. I have seen associates and seniors have babies but much harder for them to manage their schedule.I also agree with trying to get your CPA done before a baby as it requires so much commitment for studying which you don't need to worry about with a baby or child at home.

I work for a big 4 firm and waited until I was a manager to have my first child. I think as a manager I have more flexibility with my schedule and given my client base I don't have to travel as much. I have seen associates and seniors have babies but much harder for them to manage their schedule.I also agree with trying to get your CPA done before a baby as it requires so much commitment for studying which you don't need to worry about with a baby or child at home.

It seems to make more sense to wait since you are going to work for a large firm. I'm having my first in a month and work in a smaller firm. They have been great and are very flexible. The bigger firms aren't as family friendly because you are more easily replaceable (as awful as that sounds). Good luck :-)

It seems to make more sense to wait since you are going to work for a large firm. I'm having my first in a month and work in a smaller firm. They have been great and are very flexible. The bigger firms aren't as family friendly because you are more easily replaceable (as awful as that sounds). Good luck :-)

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